Nearly a month after the first severe storm of the season knocked out power to thousands of South Dakotans for weeks, relief efforts are still making their way to the state.  A donation from a Native American tribe in California will help those living on South Dakota's reservations during future disasters.

The November storm left thousands on South Dakota's Indian Reservations helpless- without power and heat for more than a week in some areas.  The Black Hills Chapter of the American Red Cross was one of a few organizations that stepped in to help.
 
"The relief efforts on the Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservations sparked national attention and through that we were contacted by the tribe," Betsy Mergenthal with the Black Hills Chapter of the American Red Cross says.

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, a tribe from California, reached out to their sister tribes in South Dakota with a donation of $100,000 for disaster relief through the Red Cross. 

"The reservations have a high rate of poverty so we'll be able to provide great assistance.  There's a great need to be met and it's such a gift to come from California and we really appreciate it," Mergenthal says.

The money has already been put to use, both for cleaning up after the November storm and to help a few families after some recent house fires. 

"Within the last two days, we responded to two house fires on two reservations and that money will go to that, as well, and future relief efforts whether it's flooding fires, or the blizzard relief efforts," Mergenthal says.

A cross-country gift that will keep giving to our state. 

If you'd like to donate to the American Red Cross, click here.